Combined circuit maker and breaker



March 13, 1934. MARZO 15950,856

COMBINED CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed Sept. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet lFRANK MARZO,

March 13, 1934. -F. MARZO 1,950,856

COMBINED CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed Sept. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FRANK MARZO,

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED cmoon' MAKERAND BREAKER Frank Marlo, Washington, D. 0. Application September, 14,1933, Serial No. 889,469

I 2 Claims. (Cl. zoo-es) This invention relates to an improvement inelectric circuit makers and breakers and has particular reference tosuch astructure for use in connection with 'alarm clocks of the spring Qmotor type.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide switch devices soconstructed and positioned as to be actuated upon the release andexpansion of the alarm spring.

,0 A further object is, the provision of switch structures for themaking and breaking of an electric circuit, such switch arranged to beactuated by the expansion of the alarm springs of the clock or clocks atpredetermined settings oi [,3 the said alarms, and it is contemplated toemploy a single clock having duplicate alarm mechanisms, althoughindividual clocks having but a single alarm each may be used.

The purpose of the presentinvention is the provision of an automaticcircuit closer for use in connection with radios, lighting circuits,electric cooking vessels, annunciator systems and many other deviceswhere it is desired to close a circuit at a predetermined time, andwhere it is desirable to interrupt said circuit after a pre= determinedperiod.

The invention contemplates a structure, oi" ei= treme simpl city,employing clock mechanisms oi conventional design, is relatively cheapto menu iacture, is strong, durable and highly effieient in use. v

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentduring the course of the following description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a clock structure embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the clocls casing showing theinvention in elevation,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one switch lever,

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a duplicate clock casingillustrating a modified use of the invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a switch stru..- ture and operatingspring and Figure 7 is a diagram of the circuit connections.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates acasing having front and rear walls 11 and 12. The walls 11 and 12 areprovided with the usual openings for receiving the clock dial and rearcover plate- As clearly iii) shown, a clock mechanism is indicatedgenerally at 13 and embodies duplicate alarm mechanisms having duplicatesprings 14 and 15, spring winds 16 and l? and alarm sets 18 and 19. Thestructure so far described relates broadly to asingle clock mechanismconstructed with duplicate alarm mechanism, each adapted to beindividually set and released at predetermined intervals. Circuitclosing switches are indicated as a whole by the letters A and B, withswitch A serving as the initial circuit closer and switch B as thecircuit breaker. Switch A comprises a substantially L-shape lever 20,pivoted at 21 to a wall of the casing 10. The long arm 22 of the leveroverlies and is spaced from the spring l4 7 and carries a combinedinsulating and wear strip 23. The shorter arm carries an insulatedcontact 25, having connection with a wire 26. The contact 25 is adaptedto engage a co-acting contact I I 2'? carried by an insulated fixedbracket 28. A 45 wire 29 has electrical connection with this contact,and with a binding post 30 carried by an insulated block 31. A spring 32normally urges arm 22 downwardly for separating the contacts 25 and 27.Release of the alarm spring i l will swing the arm 22 upward forbringing the contacts 25 and 2? into engagement.

Switch mechanism 1% embodies an L-shape arm 33, pivoted at 34, to a wallof the casing. J The long arm overlies and is in the path of 3bexpansion of the spring 15, and carries an insulating and wear strip Theshort arm 37 carries an insulated contact member 38 having electricalconnection with a circuit wire 39, the wire 39 having its opposite endscon.- nected with a binding post 40 carried upon the block 31. Thecontact 38 is adapted to normal- 1y engage a contact 41 carried by afixed insulated bracket 42. The contact 41 is electrically connectedwith the wire 26. The arm 35 is normally urged downwardly by a spring 43for maintaining the contacts 38 and 41 in engagement. A release of thealarm spring 15 will urge the arm 35 upward for separating the contacts38 and 41. Circuit wires 44 and 45 lead into the casing and haveconnection with the binding posts 30 and id. The lead-in wires may beequipped with the conventional knife plug at their outer ends.

The operation oi the structure so far described is as follows:

Assume that the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 3, withthe alarm springs wound and set. In this position no current can flow,since the switch A is in a disconnected position. It is of courseintended that the alarm spring 14 be the first to operate, and when thisoccurs, the expansion of the spring 14 bearing against the arm 22, willraise such arm and swing the arm 24 in its contact 25 into electricalcontact with contact 27. Since contacts 38 and 41 are already inengagement, current will fiow from wire 44 through wire 29, contacts 27and 25, wire 26, contacts 41 and 38, wire 39, and back to wire 45. At apredetermined time, the alarm spring 15 will be released and theexpansion thereof will raise the arm for swinging the arm 3'7 and itscontact 38 out of engagement with the contact 41 for interrupting thecircuit. In order to reset the mechanism, it is only necessary to rewindthe springs 14 and 15; the other parts automatically returning to theirnormal functioning position.

Referring now to the structure illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, thenumerals 46-and 47 indicate clock structures as a whole provided withconventional alarm springs 48 and 49. Switch structures designated C andD are arranged adjacent the clocks 46 and 47. Switch C embodies anL-shape lever 50, pivotally mounted at 51 upon a fixed bracket 52. Thelong .arm 53 .of the lever lies in the path of expansion of the spring48, while the short arm 54 is provided with an insulated contact member55 adapted to engage an insulated contact member 56 carried by thebracket 52. The bracket 52 is suitably rigidly supported upon the clockframe as indicated. A spring 57 normally urges the arm 53 downwardly forseparating the contacts 55 and 56.

Switch D embodies an L-shaped arm 58 pivotally supported at 59 upon afixed bracket 60.

The long arm 61 of the lever lies in the path' oi expansion of thespring 49, which the short arm 62 is provided with-an insulated contactmember 63 adapted to normally engage an insulated contact 64 carried bythe bracket 66. A spring 65 urges the arm 61 downwardly'ior maintainingthe contacts 63 and 64 in engagement. Contacts 55 and 63 are connectedby a wire 66. Contact 56 has connection with a wire 6'1, in turnconnected with a binding post 68. Contact 64 has connection with a wire69, in turn connected with a binding post 70. Lead-in wires 71 and 72have connection with the binding posts 68 and '70.

The operation of this form of the invention is identical with that firstdescribed, with the exception that two clocks are employed instead ofone.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction set forth,

but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly comewithin either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A structure of the character described com prising a casing, clockmechanism therein, said clock embodying two alarm mechanisms havingindependent alarm springs and sets, switch elements pivotally supportedin said casing and comprising L-shape levers, one arm of each leverpositioned over and in the path of expansion of one of said springs,insulating wear strips secured to the under faces of said arms forengagement with the alarm springs, contacts carried by the other arm ofsaid levers, brackets supported in said casing and provided withcontacts adapted to be engaged with the contacts of the arms, springsfor urging the first named named arms in a direction toward the alarmsprings, one of said switches upon the expansion of its adjacent springserving to close an electric circuit and the other of said switchesserving to interrupt said circuit upon the expansion of its adjacentspring.

2. A structure of the character described comprising a casing, springdriven clock mechanism contained therein, said mechanism embodying twoindependent alarm mechanisms having inelements pivotally supported inthe casing and comprising L-shape levers, one arm of each leverpositioned over. and in the path of expansion of its adjacent spring,leaf springs for said levers for moving the levers in a direction towardthe alarm springs, contacts carried by the other arm of said levers,brackets rigidly supported in said casing in the path 0! movement ofsaid last named arms, contacts carried by said last named arms andadapted to be engaged by contacts carried by the brackets, aninsulatingwear strip carried by each of the first named arms to beengaged by the said alarm springs, a conductor wire connected betweenthe contact of one lever and. the contact of a stationary bracket uponthe opposite side of the casing, a pair of lead-in conductor wires forsaid casing, one oi which has connection with the other of said leversand the other of which has connection with the other of said brackets,one of said switch elements upon the expansion of its adjacent springserving to close an electric circuit, and the other of said switchelements upon the expansion of its adjacent spring serving to interruptsaid circuit, substantially as shown and described.

, FRANK MARZO.

